The prosecution's witnesses made more connections between Robert Hall and drug trafficking charges this week, but Mr. Hall apparently decided not to wait for a jury verdict.
On Thursday morning, on the fourth day of his trial with Kevin Taylor, 31, and Norval Patten, 26, the 23-year-old Mr. Hall failed to show in Richmond County Superior Court.
Chief Judge William M. Fleming Jr., who had warned all three men Wednesday evening that failing to return for trial would mean trial by absente reo, issued a warrant for Mr. Hall's arrest Thursday morning and ordered a forfeiture of the $60,000 bond posted by a relative of Mr. Hall.
Assistant District Attorney Shauna Reeves said of Mr. Hall's disappearance, "I'm not at all surprised due to the mobility and unlimited cash resources these drug dealers have at their fingertips."
In the case on trial, narcotic officers confiscated $99,189 in cash, 2.2 pounds of cocaine and 40 pounds of marijuana April 24, 2001.
Mr. Hall, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Patten have pleaded innocent to charges of trafficking in cocaine and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
"Mr. Robert Hall is missing," Judge Fleming told the jury at about 10:20 a.m. Thursday. The trial was to begin at 9 a.m., and because he had warned Mr. Hall what would happen if he failed to return to court, Judge Fleming said the trial would proceed without him.
Mr. Hall's attorneys were present Thursday and continued to represent him.
On Wednesday and Thursday, prosecution witnesses tied Mr. Hall to the name Brandon White - a name listed on numerous papers and documents officers found in a Ridgecrest Drive apartment where they also found the cash and cocaine.
A jeweler identified Mr. Hall as Brandon White - a man she had sold a customized $10,000 Rolex watch to in 2000, and jurors viewed a video of Brandon White's arrest on traffic charges in 2000.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or shodson@augustachronicle.com.
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